The phones were exploding with anticipation on Thursday with political insiders speculating who might step forward to run for the 2nd District congressional seat that suddenly came into play with Jake LaTurner’s abrupt announcement he would not seek reelection.
More than a half-dozen names started circulating within an hour of LaTurner’s announcement during the lunch hour Thursday.
Here’s who’s been mentioned as possible candidates and what they said – or didn’t say.
Former Attorney General Derek Schmidt: The former gubernatorial candidate drew immediate attention, especially since he’s from Independence and he represented that part of the 2nd Congressional District. He served as a state senator representing southeast Kansas from 2001 to 2011 before he was elected attorney general. He still keeps a home in Independence, which is often featured in his Facebook posts. However, he recently took a job with Husch Blackwell as part of the state attorneys general practice. Employer and family could factor into his decision. Schmidt was mum Thursday, but a source close to the former attorney general said he was aware of interest in him running in the 2nd District. “He firmly believes the 2nd District needs to continue with strong Republican leadership in 2024,” the source said.
Jeff Kahrs: District director and senior adviser to LaTurner. The brother of Republican National Committeeman Mark Kahrs. Multiple sources confirmed his interest in running for the seat. Kahrs served in former President Donald Trump’s administration as the director of Region 7 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Kansas City, Missouri. As regional director, Kahrs oversaw HHS in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. He also served as the deputy secretary and chief of staff for the Kansas Department for Children and Families in former Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration. Kahrs also spent 16 years as a congressional staff member to former Republican Congressman Todd Tiahrt as legislative director and chief of staff.
Todd Thompson: Leavenworth County attorney since 2009. The Leavenworth native graduated from the University of Kansas and received his law degree from Washburn University. Before he was elected, Thompson was an assistant county attorney for Leavenworth County for five years, serving as the head of the juvenile division. He’s been active at the statehouse, advocating for bills that toughened the penalties for child abuse. “I appreciate Jake’s service. It’s a lot to process in a short amount of time. There’s a lot to balance and think about before making a decision, but it’s definitely one I am thinking about.”
Rep. Chris Croft: The Kansas House majority leader. He now represents House District 8 in Overland Park. He was first elected to the House in 2018. A staffer confirmed that Croft owns a House in the 2nd District. Three years ago, Croft considered running in the 3rd District. Politico reported Croft’s interest in running for Congress when it disclosed that he was among a group of veterans who Republicans were recruiting to run for a seat on Capitol Hill. Republicans were hoping that veterans would help make the party more appealing heading into the 2022 elections. At one point, Croft met with National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer. Croft said that he and his wife, Connie, were “prayerfully considering whether or not a run for Congress would be the best way to continue that public service and fight for conservative wins for Kansas.”
Sen. Caryn Tyson: The chair of the Senate tax committee has been in the Legislature since 2011, first in the House and then elected to the Kansas Senate in 2012. Tyson ran for this seat in 2018, finishing second in the Republican primary behind scandal-ridden Steve Watkins, who ultimately was elected for one term. Tyson also ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer against Steven Johnson in the primary in 2022. Tyson issued a statement, saying she was seriously considering a run for the seat.
Kim Borchers: The outgoing Republican National Committeewoman confirmed she was looking at the possibility of running. “There is a definite interest and we’ll be looking at it over the next several weeks to see if it’s the right thing to do and if I would be someone who could serve the 2nd well because that’s what we need,” she said. Borchers previously worked as deputy chief of staff and appointments secretary for former Gov. Sam Brownback. Borchers’ LinkedIn page shows she is now the president and owner of a recruiting and consulting firm. Borchers’ firm is described as a “boutique recruitment firm for C-suite talent placement and professional development in all business lines of state and federal government.”
Sen. Dennis Pyle: The Republican-turned-independent-turned-Republican has run for this seat twice before, once in 2010 and again in 2018. He ran against Republican U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins for the seat in 2010 and finished with 43% of the vote. He ran again for the open seat in 2018 and finished fifth in a seven-person field with about 12% of the vote. If he runs for reelection to the Kansas Senate, the Hiawatha lawmaker already faces two Republican challengers in the primary. A longtime Republican, Pyle changed to an independent so he could run for governor in 2022. He is now a Republican again. Pyle could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Tony Mattivi: The director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and former federal prosecutor with a record fighting terrorism. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in the Republican primary in 2022. He lost to eventual winner Kris Kobach. A spokesperson ruled out a candidacy. “Director Mattivi said he’s completely happy where he’s at and focused on the work he’s currently doing so is uninterested in running for the seat,” KBI spokeperson Melissa Underwood said in a statement.
